How many overs are there in Cricket World Cup matches? Has it always been the same?
The 2019 Cricket World Cup is underway as the 10 best One Day International sides on the planet battle it out for the magnificent trophy.
England are hosting the tournament, with Australia, India, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka all hoping to return home as champions.
It is an epic competition, played over nearly seven weeks as the 10 sides compete in one huge group stage, before four teams compete in the semi-finals.
The format has changed a few times since the tournament made its debut back in 1975, including the number of overs played in a match.
How many overs are there in a Cricket World Cup match?
Both sides are given 50 overs to bat in Cricket World Cup matches, with a maximum of 10 overs for each bowler.
If a team bats out its full 50 overs, an innings tends to take around three to three-and-a-half hours.
How many overs were there in previous Cricket World Cup matches?
The first three editions of the tournament – 1975, ’79 and ’83 – were played with a 60 over over format.
The tournament was reduced to 50 overs-per-side in 1987 when Australia beat England in the final in Kolkata to claim the World Cup for the first time.
Previous Cricket World Cup winners
1975 – West Indies
1979 – West Indies
1983 – India
1987 – Australia
1992 – Pakistan
1996 – Sri Lanka
1999 – Australia
2003 – Australia
2007 – Australia
2011 – India
2015 – Australia
When is the T20 World Cup?
There is a separate T20 World Cup which is played over the 20 over format, which was first played in 2007.
West Indies won the last T20 World Cup in India in 2016, the next edition is hosted by Australia in 2020.
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